ph 13·04·10 Week 15 explore.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ariel otogra ph: TERRY MEALEY TERRY ph: THE BBC NEWSPAPER a I ’s orders under starter
live from Aintree Richard Bacon presents his show from the famous course at the start of a weekendage 2 of 5live specials in Liverpool P
◆ Mark Damazer ◆ Enjoying the job, ◆ From mine to announces he’s off to Evan Davis on two microphone; What Am College Page 2 years at Today Page 6 I Doing Here? Page 15
> NEWS 2-4 WEEK AT WORK 8-9 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 GREEN ROOM 16 < 162 News aa 00·00·08 13·04·10 NEWS BITES Search begins for Radio 3 has launched its first a ever weekly chart, marking sales of classical music. Every Monday the drivetime programme In Room 2316, White City Magazines partner Tune will unveil the chart and 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS play a track from the Number 1 020 8008 4228 disc, with a more detailed look Editor by Sally Hillier we can find an appropriate partner, who under- in the following day’s breakfast Candida Watson 02-84222 stands our values and brands, and if we are able programme. Radio 3’s website will Deputy editor u BBC Magazines is looking to strike a deal with to structure a deal that works for both parties include clips from the top 20 and Cathy Loughran 02-27360 another company, as a way of introducing fresh and delivers value back to the BBC.’ a list of the week’s rises and falls. investment to the business and aiding growth. While the BBC Trust had given outline sup- Chief writer Preliminary conversations are to start short- port ‘for us to test the water’, any eventual part- Dancing With the Stars. the Sally Hillier 02-26877 ly with interested parties, and at this stage a nership would still require full trust approval. international version of Strictly Planning editor number of ‘possible partnership structures’ is The decision to go down the partnership route Come Dancing, was the most Clare Bolt 02-24622 being explored. The news was announced on emerged from a review by Worldwide’s Executive watched programme in the US in Broadcast Journalists Monday by Peter Phippen, managing director of Board, which looked at the best way to take the the last week of March, making it Claire Barrett 02-27368 Magazines, who described it as ‘a very exciting business forward. the first non-Superbowl show to Adam Bambury 02-27410 opportunity’. Last month the Strategy Review recommend- outshine American Idol in the last Lisette Johnston 02-27630 The development follows months of specu- ed ‘new limits on Worldwide’s activities’, and in its five years. It was the top programme Rumeana Jahangir 01 -43756 lation and reports earlier this year that the BBC own commercial review the Trust made clear that for viewers aged 18-49, with an AV Manager planned to sell the publishing operation, which there would be no further acquisitions of the audience of 23 million – more Peter Roach 02-24622 performed strongly in the recent ABC circulation type and scale of Lonely Planet, for which the than for CBS, NBC, Fox and CW results, recording record sales for some titles. BBC was sharply criticised by publishing rivals. combined in the time slot. Digital Design Executives While Monday’s news hardly came as a sur- The investigation by Worldwide’s board had David Murray 02-27380 prise, some of those affected said they would like been ‘wide and thorough’ and had considered The BBC Trust work programme Gary Lonergan 02-84229 to have had ‘more detail’ about where the busi- various options. Phippen said. It was agreed that for 2010 includes a value for money Team assistant ness was heading. Phippen, though, did not wish forging a partnership ‘could enable our portfolio review of continuing drama, service Graeme Allister 02-84228 to speculate on any likely outcome. of highly-regarded and profitable market-leading reviews of Radios 3, 4 and 7, and In an email to Magazines staff, he said: ‘I titles to meet its potential, while still protecting the publication of its review of Guest contributors this week want to reassure you that we will only proceed if the BBC’s editorial standards and brands’. BBC One, Two, Four and the Red Button. There is also the impartiality bill thompson on why no review of science coverage, journalist would now use email to and a review of the complaints contact a sensitive source. Page 6 framework. In the autumn the Damazer leaving ‘best job trust will reveal its thoughts on robert hugh jones putting out a the Strategy Review. Chairman vibrant radio Breakfast show to the Michael Lyons described the year’s United States Page 15 in the BBC’ for Oxford post work as ‘an ambitious agenda’. Four youngsters aged 11-13 Ariel mail by Sally Hillier siasm and love for Radio 4 and I am.’ will grill David Cameron, Alan Candida. [email protected] His announcement prompted warm trib- Johnson (Labour and Lembit Opik Ariel online explore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel u Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer is to utes with Mark Thompson and Tim Davie de- (Liberal Democrat) in Election: BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 leave the BBC. He will step down in October scribing him, respectively, as ‘outstanding’ Your Vote, to be broadcast on from the job, which includes overseeing Ra- and ‘brilliant’. April 22 at 4.35pm on BBC One. Jobs textphone 028 9032 8478 dio 7, to become head of St Peter’s College, Ox- ‘His work has been characterised by integrity, Filmed in front of an audience of BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 ford. It is a return to academic life for the man total commitment to depth and quality, and a ded- children, the programme will be Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS who attained a double starred first in history at ication to serving audiences, said Thompson. presented by Angellica Bell with the Advertise in Ariel Cambridge and was awarded the Harkness Davie, director of Audio and Music, add- discussion chaired by Andrew Neil. Ten Alps Media 020 7878 2313 Fellowship at Harvard. ed: ‘He has a unique ability to create a www.bbcarielads.com He will be leaving a job he ‘has loved’, he schedule for listeners that is intellectually The next generation of tv writers says, and he will miss almost all aspects of it. demanding, offers wonderful breadth and is being sought by the BBC Drama Printing ‘But I always felt that I should not do is frequently inspiring. ’ Writers’ Academy. Now in its sixth Garnett Dickinson Group much more than seven years as control- Before taking up his current year, the Academy, which offers Rotherham 01709 768000 ler,’ he explains in his blog, ‘and by post, one highlight of which was training in all aspects of drama Subscribe to Ariel October I will have had the best job leading Radio 4 to the Sony Sta- production, as well as developing Six months: £26, £36, £40 in the BBC for six of those years. tion of the Year title in 2008, writing skills, is the only course Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 ‘ I did not want to run the risk of Damazer was deputy director in the world that guarantees (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world my ideas drying up, being insensate of News. He has held many oth- writers the opportunity to work respectively) to the best ideas of the many people er senior posts including head of on prime time television. Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, who make Radio 4 what it is or have Political Programmes, editor of Brookfields Way, Manvers, anyone muse over a date for my de- the Nine O’Clock News and head Michael McIntyre will host this Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL parture. of Weekly programmes, News and year’s Royal Variety Performance 'I knew that I would one day have Current Affairs. in the presence of Prince Tel 01709 768199 to hand over the reins… I very much The process to appoint his suc- Charles. The show will transmit INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY wanted to leave bursting with enthu- cessor at Radio 4 will start shortly. on BBC One in December. Telephone 0800 0688 159 Ceefax Page 159www.bbc.co.uk/159 EastEnders: E20, an online Ariel is produced by Internal version of the long-running soap Communications for people at the BBC penned by writers aged between A racing cert for 5live OBs 17 and 22 years old, is to return for a second series. Ten 14 minute episodes will be available on the u Radio 5 live trotted up to Liverpool of course went on to win Saturday’s big race. EastEnders website later this year. where it mounted three days of special pro- Another highlight was Richard Bacon’s show, Then they will be shown in five gramming tied to the Grand National. from the racecourse, during which Alex Fergu- televised episodes on BBC Three. As well as comprehensive coverage of the son gave a rare interview to the BBC. The Man- Aintree meeting, the network organised a chester United manager has had a long-running Madonna’s recordings have been PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL ‘meet the BBC racing team’ event, and broad- spat with the corporation, but was happy to played in public in the UK more than cast an edition of Fighting Talk in front of a talk to racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght, any other over the past ten years, city centre audience. It also broadcast a lively broadcasting alongside Bacon, after the horse according to the People’s Artist lunchtime debate on the future of football in he co-owns, What a Friend, won at Aintree. The Chart, unveiled on Radio 2. Madonna Liverpool, and a Friday night preview of the Liverpool special was part of Radio 5 live’s ef- beat The Beatles into second place, Grand National, with guest Tony McCoy, who forts to get out and about to meet its audience. with Robbie Williams at No. 3, Queen at No. 4 and Take That at No. 5.
> ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< a 13·04·10 News 3
Presenter Justin Fletcher as Mr Tumble in Something Special , MPs want designed for children with learning difficulties more info from BBC The House of Commons public accounts com- mittee criticised the BBC’s level of public ac- countability and called for a change in audit arrangements in its latest report on ‘value for money’ at the corporation. Chairman of the committee Edward Leigh said the BBC is ‘currently immune from being properly held to account’ for its spending. Unlike other publicly owned organisations, said Leigh, the BBC does not have to submit information of its expenditure to the Nation- al Audit Office for scrutiny on behalf of parlia- ment. ‘The current arrangements for the value for money audit of the BBC, under which the BBC Trust selects the subjects for examination and decides what information it will allow the National Audit Office and this committee to see, are anomalous and untenable,’ he said. The committee’s report suggests that there is a disparity between the British public’s view of the level of transparency and accountability expected of a publicly A golden age for children funded corporation and that of the BBC itself, which needs to be bridged to restore by Claire Barrett something on the BBC that was four months into the job. ‘The children. It’s a specialism to my public confidence in the corporation. important to them – whether it move to Salford will be difficult; mind and I want it to stay that It also calls for a proposed accountability If the strategy review comes was watching people like them- now is not the time to reinvent way.’ review to be moved forward from the current up trumps for Children’s and selves, seeing their passions re- things.’ He shared concerns about ITV’s prospective date of 2016, when the Royal delivers extra funding, Joe God- flected or having the world made But next year’s move north was withdrawal from children’s pro- Charter is due to be renewed. ‘Putting proper win wants more factual pro- easier to understand. ‘I want to a time to bring down some bar- gramming, but pointed to oth- accountability on hold for six years in this grammes, more serious drama see more children with learn- riers. Media City was built and er major players, such as Dis- way is not acceptable,’ Leigh argued. and higher levels of investment ing disabilities on tv,’ said God- wired for the digital age, be- ney and Nickelodeon, who were In response to the report, the BBC in independently-made British lieved the University of Man- providing healthy competition Trust insisted it had given the NAO all the animation. chester graduate, and was a to the BBC. ‘If you ask children information required; ‘They have had full ‘We currently put in around 20 building that enabled people to what their favourite drama is access to all information for the two studies percent each time; I’d like to put get involved and get noticed. ‘In- they are as likely to say Hannah covered by today’s report, and we have in more,’ the director of Chil- stead of 12 little boxed in floors Montana as Tracy Beaker,’ he ar- recently agreed a range of ways to enhance dren’s told a BBC Academy nev- [as in TVC’s East Tower], we’ll be gued. ‘The audience likes Amer- this access further in future,’ the trust said. er stop learning event last week. on two floors. We’ll be able to ican stuff.’ That improved access meant more ‘I’d like to do more program- bump into other people; there’ll Godwin denied that television’s routine sharing of information, including ming about the world outside be much more natural sharing.’ days were numbered, believing audit committee papers, risk registers and the UK, to satisfy children’s curi- The divide between television that there would always be a financial reports, a spokeswoman explained. osity about other children, and and online would be eroded, place for linear channels, but he The trust added that any arrangement it would be nice to have a longer with new recruits likely to be accepted that Children’s had to between the BBC and NAO must ‘safeguard run drama series for 12-13 year people who ‘had their heads match audience expectations to the BBC’s independence from parliament and olds.’ Joe Godwin - passionate about around both’. get their content whenever and the government of the day’: ‘Government- Entertainment programmes children’s programming It was a ‘great shame’ that many however they wanted. ‘We’re commissioned research shows that the public – where the younger Godwin in his department could not go sort of there in a way, with the agrees that the BBC should be independent learnt his trade – would remain win, who picked out Something to Salford – and about half can’t iPlayer a phenomenal success from government and Parliament.’ an important part of the mix. Special – which introduces sign – but this would create oppor- story for children.’ In a March PAC hearing on the handling ‘We have to remember that go- language to special needs pre- tunities for others, said God- With the web, games consoles of three major BBC building projects, trustee ing to school can be quite hard,’ schoolers – as the programme win, pointing out that when and 31 dedicated channels, chil- Jeremy Peat told the committee that the he reasoned. ‘A big part of what of which he is most proud. ‘It’s he joined Children’s 20 years dren growing up in the UK to- trust would ‘be very happy to consider the we do is to allow children to re- a great unheard voice and they ago he knew ‘bugger all’. ‘Peo- day had ‘never had it so good’ NAO as our auditor if they wish to tender lax, chill out, laugh.’ are such loyal consumers.’ ple gave me the chance to learn. in terms of choice and quality. for contract when it is next renewed, which Most importantly, he wanted all Not that all this amounted to Skills are secondary to a pas- ‘The golden age is now,’ Godwin is likely to be around 2012’, provided the of the UK’s 12m children to find a ‘vision’, argued the director, sion for communicating with claimed. NAO reported directly to the trust. Refining the look - a subtle shift for urban music station
The station formerly known as Xtra RnB, Xtra Hip Hop to Radio 1’. Can you see the dio 1 Xtra – if you’re not satisfied 1Xtra has moved further into its new During daytime hours the on-air difference ? with Radio 1’s delivery of urban mu- role as the urban complement to Ra- trailing will reference this line, but The new sic, you can go over to Radio 1Xtra dio 1 with the announcement of a in the evening extra details will be 1Xtra logo. where we’ve got more of it.’ new look and strapline. added to reflect specialist program- Wood argued that the station’s pre- Now officially known as BBC Radio ming on offer, for example ‘Xtra UK vious strapline, ‘love black music, 1Xtra, the station has had its logo G to Radio 1’. love 1 Xtra’, was too ambiguous. redesigned to reflect the new align- James Wood, Radio 1’s head of mar- ‘Was it music of black origin, was ment - with the ‘xtra’ part of the ti- keting, called the move a ‘refine- first we wanted to set 1Xtra up as the Radio 1,’ he told Ariel. it music for black people, or was it tle now much reduced in proportion ment’ rather than a relaunch and BBC doing a pirate radio station. It ‘What we’ve tried to do now is re-es- even both?’ he said. ‘We felt that to the ‘one’. said it reflected a change in how the needed to have credibility and was tablish it as a complementary out- with a bit of tweeking we’ve got a It also has a new tag: ‘1Xtra offers station wanted to be perceived. ‘At in a sense a little bit removed from put. You’ve got Radio 1, and then Ra- better offering.’
4 News a 13·04·10 Now fans can play Doctor as games are added to programme portfolio
by Adam Bambury tive, and developed by UK game de- signer Sumo Digital. Doctor Who fans not content with It also features a number of peo- merely seeing Matt Smith in the new ple involved with the television se- series of the show will now get the ries: Doctor Who exec Stephen Moffat chance to play him as well with the is an exec producer, and stories and announcement of a series of Who- scripts are coming from Phil Ford (co- themed computer games. writer Doctor Who ‘Waters of Mars’) Billed as ‘interactive episodes’ and James Moran (Severance, Torch- of the series, Doctor Who: The Ad- wood Children of Earth). venture Games will let players con- The show’s central protagonists trol the Doctor and his assistant as – the Doctor and Amy Pond – have they travel across time and space and been digitally recreated, with Matt meet both new and existing charac- Smith and Karen Gillan providing ters in four new adventures. full voiceovers. Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, BBC ‘Establishing new forms of Wales and Executive Producer, Doc- drama is exactly what the tor Who, emphasised that the online BBC should be doing,’ games would form an integral part of said Simon Nelson, the series. ‘There aren’t 13 episodes head of BBC multi- of Doctor Who this year. There are 17 platform in Vision. – four of which are interactive,’ he ‘By aiming these said. ‘interactive epi- ‘Everything you see and experi- sodes’ at the broad ence within the game is part of the audience of TV show Doctor Who universe: we’ll be tak- – unique in British ing you to places you’ve only ever television, in that it en- dreamed about seeing – including lo- compasses at least three cations impossible to create on tele- generations – we’re aiming vision.’ to encourage the family to gath- The project – which will be availa- er round the PC or Mac in the same ble to download free for PC and Mac way they do the television.’ computers from the Doctor Who The first episode of the Doctor Who: website – has been commissioned for The Adventure Games will be released online by the Vision Multiplatform in June. More details about its content team, driven by BBC Wales Interac- will be revealed later this month. The digitised duo. Inset: a gang of mini Doctors at a Doctor Who toy launch hosted by Worldwide last week Sony nominations for 6 into 2 won’t go - threatened stations no plans for rebrand The BBC has poured cold This is sure to disap- The station, launched digital radio stations 6 Music and Asian some British Asians were going back to India water on claims that 6 Mu- point the people who in 2002 and home to pre- Network received a welcome boost with and plotting to murder spouses or relatives. sic is get a new lease of life are involved in what has senters such as Jarvis Cock- the announcement of the nominees for the Among many other BBC nominations it as Radio 2 Extra. turned into a high-profile er, Lauren Laverne, Steve Sony Radio Academy awards, while Radio was also a particularly good day for local radio, ‘There are no plans to campaign to save 6 Music Lamacq and Tom Robin- Berkshire came top of the local radio list. which has 18 contenders. ‘It’s the rebrand 6 Music as Radio since it was earmarked for son, has an annual content 6 Music and its presenters received an highest number of nominations for 2 Extra,’ the BBC said on closure in the Strategy Re- spend of around £7 mil- unprecedented seven nominations, two in the the English Regions that we can Monday following week- view last month. lion, and reaches 695,000 Music Broadcaster of the Year award for Huey remember,’ said a spokeswoman. end newspaper reports David Bowie, Lily Allen listeners a week. Morgan and Steve Lamacq. Presenter Lauren Radio Berkshire tops the list suggesting that the The controversial Laverne is up for Music Radio Personality of with four nominations, two of them station would be re- recommendation to the Year and Best Music Programme, and for The Andrew Peach Show - which launched under a new close it was one of the Adam and Joe are in the running is up for Best Breakfast Show (under 10 name, while continui- ‘tough choices’ made for Best Comedy. Steve Levine million) and Best News and Current ing to feature many of in the Strategy Review has been nominated as Best Affairs programme – and one for its current presenters as part of the effort to Specialist Contributor, and the Peach himself who is nominated for and much of the same do fewer things better. station itself is a contender Speech Broadcaster of the Year. The playlist. and former culture sec- The review also pro- for Best Station Imaging. station is also a contender in the Best In a brief statement, the retary James Purnell are posed shutting the Asian 6 Music’s Jarvis Cocker and Community programming category corporation explained: ‘We among those who have Network, using the re- Asian Network’s Waqas Saeed are thanks to The New Ballads of Reading have said that we will re- criticised the proposals sources released ‘to serve both competing for the public- Gaol, which documented a poetry writing invest any funds from the to shut down the station, Asian audiences better in voted ‘rising star’ award. Asian initiative involving local young offenders. proposed closure of 6 Mu- whose remit includes sup- other ways’. Network is also in the running The Radio Academy awards and the sic in digital radio con- porting live music and new This decision has been for Best Speech Programme Rising Star prize will be presented on May tent. This commitment re- artists. criticised as well, by fans thanks to presenter Nihal, and 10 at a ceremony in London hosted by mains and we are looking Feelings have been passionate about the sta- Best News Special for the BBC Radio 2 breakfast presenter Chris Evans. at a number of ways of do- made known online and at tion, although the press Birmingham programme ing it. But simply rebrand- a ‘Save 6 Music’ protest out- coverage has been smaller Passport to Murder, which 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq could be Music ing 6 Music as Radio 2 Ex- side Broadcasting House in scale that that generat- investigated allegations that Broadcaster of the Year tra is not one of them.’ two weeks ago. ed by 6 Music. a 13·04·10 Features 5 dancing to
Star turn: James Hobley, disco dancer, BEAT at a contest in Blackpool’s Tower a DIFFERENT Ballroom As BBC Three begins a season on autism Rumeana Jahangir hears how disco dancing helped one boy interact with other people
His name is James Hobley. Two took advice from the National Au- of James years ago, he couldn’t read or write tism Society before filming the fam- bouncing on had properly. Then a leaflet for local ily for three months. ‘You can’t go his trampoline nev- dance lessons dropped onto his door- into a film like this with a fixed idea and the twins lying er been mat. He is now a talented disco danc- of what you are going to get,’ Bloor on a bed, joking with to a dance er and his learning and social skills says. ‘It’s their film, not ours. You each other. competition have improved dramatically. have to be relaxed about the direc- Working with children al- before. James, along with his ten-year-old tion it’s going to take.’ ways poses certain challenges Other documenta- twin George and older brother Alex, but the brothers’ autistic condition ries in BBC Three’s season in- is autistic. He’s also the star of Autism, meant that the filmmakers some- soon as they clude a follow-up to last year’s The Au- Disco and Me – one of four documenta- times had to amend their schedules went out of the house, they would tistic Me which followed three young ries in BBC Three’s upcoming season ‘It’s their film, at short notice. ‘There were often mo- very quickly run in front of cars.’ people with autism, The Autistic Driv- on the developmental disability that ments when George [James’s twin] Despite the extra difficulties, ing School and a two-parter called The affects a person’s social interaction. not ours. You didn’t want to engage with us. He Bloor found that she hit it off with Autistic Prom. The hour-long programme follows didn’t understand why we kept ask- the children straightaway and was Bloor points out that the con- James in his bid to win the nation- have to be ing him questions,’ she explains. ‘We moved by James’s spirit and joy when dition can often be wrongly gen- al Disco Kid competition at Black- had to be really patient and just be she first saw him dance. ‘It was pret- eralised, ’There’s a wide spectrum pool and is narrated by former Strictly prepared to come back on another ty special; it made me realise that he through which autism can manifest Come Dancing contestant Craig Kelly. relaxed.’ day. It’s a big ask for a ten-year-old to had incredible talent. He was so pol- itself.’ ‘Within the first two minutes, I be performing all the time, talking ished and professional.’ She says the work was fun to do. forgot about James’s autism because An issue that Bloor had to work about himself and his emotions. That The documentary is just as much ‘It was a great experience and I real- he has a lovely personality,’ recalls with was the brothers’ timekeep- was something he did find very diffi- about James’s progress through the ly enjoyed it. The Hobleys were a love- producer Liz Bloor. ‘He has such a lov- ing practices. ‘Some people with au- cult, so that was hard.’ different dance competitions as it is ly family to work with. I’m going to ing spirit about him – such a sense tism are rigid clock-watchers. If you Working on the documentary about autism. It ends amid the glit- keep in touch and see how they are of fun.’ say that you’ll be there at 12 o’clock, also made Bloor realise how hard it ter, costumes and music of the Dis- all doing.’ Bloor worked closely with the it can really upset their day if you’re can be to deal with the condition. co Kid contest in Blackpool’s Tower BBC Three’s autism season starts brothers and their parents, Sheila late.’ But she found the whole fami- ‘The boys have no sense of danger so Ballroom. ‘I realised I was looking at on April 22 and Andy, who believe dancing has ly to be relaxed and the documentary you have to be permanently vigilant some of the best children dancers in Autism, Disco and Me will be shown ‘unlocked’ James’s mind. She also captures some wonderful moments which makes life tricky,’ she says. ‘As the whole country,’ says Bloor who on May 6 Hiding AMONG YOU his condition changed us Herm Baskerville, web people won’t noticeably jump when it rings. Anna Sabti, web assistant for felt difficult and embarrassing of trying to force him to speak assistant, Manchester Multiplatform, has Pause: steady your heartbeat and voice be- Bitesize (White City), has a to explain our brother’s strange our language we slowly start- Asperger Syndrome fore answering. Use caller ID. There is noth- brother with autism behaviour to our friends. ed to speak his. We could talk I pretend to be a real person for a living. ing more intimidating than unknowns. My younger brother was di- David struggled with lan- to him through play, using pup- All right, that isn’t in my job de- Physical contact: now that’s tricky. Thank- agnosed as being on the autis- guage and found it very hard pets and toys and silly voices. scription. Nor is it a recognised skill fully, ours is not a kiss-both-cheeks culture. tic spectrum at the age of three. to communicate his emotions, We adapted our tone of voice for one’s CV. Most people take it for The great British handshake I’ve learned to He would spend hours obses- while any disruption of his rou- to one that made him feel calm granted. Most people haven’t got anticipate and mimic, even receiving com- sively lining up wooden toy tine would result in a tantrum and relaxed. Asperger’s syndrome. pliments on my firm grip. blocks, video cassettes, felt tip and my parents got disapprov- David is 19 now and he’s at I have learned to live among Some things real people do, I sim- pen lids – anything he could get ing looks in shopping centres a specialised school for young them almost undetected. ply cannot. Being too anxious and his hands on. Our whole house from people who assumed he people with autism where he Sometimes it’s a question clumsy to consider myself a safe would be covered in perfect- was a very disobedient child. can learn life skills and how to of degree. Many real people driver, I never learned. Lacking ly lined up objects, and if any of Things really changed for take care of himself. are uncomfortable and awk- capacity and drive for relation- them were moved David would us when we stopped trying to Autism has changed my fam- ward socially. When alert and ships, I’m resigned to singledom. scream the place down. make him more ‘normal’ and ily and the course of our lives. prepared, I can seem mere- Not all Aspies understand jokes, It was very difficult for my instead altered ourselves. We But it is so different from per- ly uncomfortable and awk- let alone share my offbeat sense of youngest brother and me to un- had to change our perceptions son to person that when you ward too. Make eye contact, humour. Most might not joke about derstand; being children our- of ‘normal’ behaviour because are close to someone who has force animation into your voice ‘real people’, but all of us can rec- selves we had little patience there really is no such thing. We it you don’t see it as a condition. and smile, always smile. Then ognise the feeling of being an alien and probably resented the ex- also changed the way we com- It’s more like a facet of their per- there’s the telephone. Most real among our own kind. tra attention David received. It municated with David; instead sonality.
6 Features a 13·04·10
Rtyty ty tyty ty ty ty ty ty ty ty tyty ty tyty ty ty ty ty cutting Happy tyto tytytytyty betyty tytytyty inty tytyty tythe yt edge BILL hot seat after all THOMPSON p h Two years after becoming otogr a
‘Deep Throat p
a presenter on the A h: NN just tweeted’ Today programme Evan A GORDON Davis is relaxing into his Deep Throat would have had a hard time staying anonymous if Watergate happened own personal style and today, and not just because of the prevelance enjoying the job, as he of CCTV systems in underground car parks. The chances are that Woodward or Bernstein, tells Candida Watson the two Washington Post journalists who used his information to uncover the story behind the Watergate break-in and unseat Evan Davis is looking tired. He has been in Richard Nixon, would have ended up expos- the Today office since 0345, done a long inter- ing his identity through careless use of new view with David Cameron at 0810, then had technologies. to hang around to have his picture taken and One reason that Mark Felt managed to be interviewed by Ariel and a national news- keep his secret for decades was that his paper. name and contact details weren’t stored Nonetheless he is warm and enthusiastic in the address book of an easily hackable as he talks about his two years on the flag- mobile phone. There were no emails from ship radio programme, which began as an ‘[email protected]’ to be traced in attachment from his role as economics edi- the Post’s server logs, and he didn’t acciden- tor on April Fool’s Day 2008. tally update his Facebook profile to say ‘just ‘What that says I don’t know,’ he laughs; briefed a journalist on big gov scandal!’ ‘But I’m sure it’s significant!’ These days both sources and the journal- He says that for the first six months ists they talk to run the risk of inadvertently he felt ‘really out of my depth’. He joined exposing themselves every time they rely on thinking presenting would be easy, and was digital technologies to contact each other, quickly disabused of that notion: ‘Once I got and the dangers of exposure are only going down to it I realised it’s difficult. You are op- to get worse as these tools become more erating under a lot of constraints, the clock embedded in our daily lives. is a very severe one, the need to get a news The risks of email being intercepted or line, to engage the audience, not to make a simply trawled through by those investigat- complete fool of yourself. My admiration for ing a leak are well other presenters – not just on Today – went known, and data up enormously.’ ‘No-one retention laws in Eu- When he is presenting he gets in two and rope which would see half hours before the programme starts, to would use records of every email brief himself on the day’s stories. It’s not exchange stored for a lot of time when the running order can email to up to two years mean change right up to the wire, as news breaks. no investigative jour- He pays tribute to the Today production team talk to a nalist would dream of for the briefs and expertise with which they using email to talk to a help him prepare. source’ confidential source. Once on air, he’s on his own with the in- But now our tools terviewees and the listeners. can expose us in other ways, especially when He is a little rueful about his interview they reveal where we are – and who else is in with Cameron. ‘The twitter comments after- the same place. Smartphones like the iPhone wards were that it was far too soft. I think it tionwide and just going out and doing stupid Speech. He says: ‘It was feisty and entertain- and Google’s Nexus one come with GPS sys- had a rather saggy middle and I was more things like seeing if you can escape from a ing and made a point other people hadn’t tems, so they know exactly where they are worried about that in retrospect than I was straitjacket is part of that. But also it’s good been making about these laws that pledge at any time, and many social media tools like about it sounding too convivial.’ for the programme to have presenters out- to abolish child poverty, or halve the fiscal Twitter can add this ‘geodata’ to posts. He knows there is a part of the Today side the studio.’ deficit, without saying how. ‘ Location-based services like Brightkite, audience which thinks he shouldn’t do the His lows are interrupting people, and Foursquare and Rummble invite their users big political interviews because of his less perhaps, giggling too much. He thinks it’s a to check-in as often as possible, and sites like combative style, but says: ‘The programme ‘Being the new boy you subconscious way of trying to relax guests, Facebook encourage a degree of sharing. has a tradition of adversarial interviews of but acknowledges it can sound as if he is the The consequences are real. Earlier this which John Humphrys is the most celebrat- say yes to whatever one who is nervous. year a group of privacy campaigners put up ed craftsman. I’m not going to match him at Critics make much of it, and Davis has a site called ‘Pleaserobme’ that used public that, and I don’t particularly think it is sen- they ask – escaping also been the subject of sniping in gossip posts to figure out where someone lived and sible to do so; it’s better to say we will have columns. Asked if it upsets him he says: ‘It when they were away from home, inviting different styles.’ from a straitjacket is did, but it doesn’t [now]. The criticisms that burglars to take advantage of the opportu- And the Davis style did elicit informa- hurt are the things that deep down I know nity, and it can only be a matter of time before tion from Cameron, not least that he’s too part of that’ are true. When they just talk nonsense or the geographical proximity of a civil servant wary of alienating powerful press interests make spiteful personal comments I don’t to a journalist immediately before a leak is to name his favourite newspaper. That said, Davis finds the public recog- particularly mind any more.’ used to out a whistleblower. Davis also gets out and about, recording nise him for presenting Dragons’ Den, not He certainly comes across, for all the bags The desire to be open and transparent about material for Today, and if you haven’t seen Today. Nor is he immune from the allure under his eyes, as a man who enjoys his job. where we are and what we’re up is understand- the film on the programme website of him of fame himself, citing meeting the Dalai He says when he came to Today, on that at- able, but we need to make sure that we mini- trying to be an escapologist then you have Lama, Stephen Hawking and Karl Lagerfeld tachment, he genuinely thought he would mise the risks to those we ask to trust us. missed out. He says: ‘Being the new boy you as some of his Today highlights. go back to being economics editor. Now he Bill Thompson is a technology writer say yes to whatever they ask you to do, but He is also proud of an interview he did says: ‘I’m not looking to move elsewhere. It’s also I was brought up on Blue Peter and Na- with Peter Mandelson after the last Queen’s a very good place to be – very good fun.’ a 13·04·10 Features 7 local hero From warzones to earthquakes Peter Grant has followed the story for local radio audiences across the UK.
by Candida Watson For them he shivered in the snow ing out - that you got hard and cynical, a staff post on Radio Oxford in 1978. in the Pakistan earthquake of 2005. outside Stormont over the long days became a battered old hack, in fact I’ve There followed what he describes as ‘I thought ‘ what am I doing this for, Millions of local radio listeners will in 1998 when the Good Friday agree- found it gets to me more. Rather than ‘meteoric progress, starting as a report- why am I watching someone leaving be missing a familiar voice as this elec- ment was hammered out; sweltered in growing extra layers I feel you use lay- er and ending as one.’ this life? But then you think perhaps tion campaign gets underway, because the Middle East on embeds in the Gulf ers…’ Looking back on his long career if I can explain this a bit better for peo- after 32 years in radio, twenty of them War, the invasion of Iraq, and on many It was also getting to him physical- Grant said it was hard to select specific ple listening then that’s the job I’m working for GNS, veteran reporter Pe- return visits to the country over the ly; ‘GNS demands 2-3 hours constant highlights – but when pushed cited his employed to do.’ ter Grant has left the BBC. years; listened to mortars whistling in broadcasting morning and evening, time with the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Grant, who intends to travel for During those years Grant dallied from Taliban positions, and told the and that’s draining. You have to do it division during the invasion of Iraq. pleasure rather than business now, with national output, working in the story from conflicts and disaster zones properly, you have to treat each 2-way He said; ‘They took the river crossing says there are stories happening this radio newsroom in the 80’s, at Mill- from Kosovo to Kabul. as if it’s the only one you’re doing, into Baghdad and being the reporter year he would love to have covered, but bank and for the Today programme, Through it all he retained his mor- because the listener to Radio wher- who got the story out, that’s what eve- even so he has no regrets about hang- but mostly he broadcast to the vast dant humour and enthusiasm for the ever neither knows nor cares that ry journalist wants – being the person ing up his flak jacket, microphone and audience [10 million on average] that job, but he also realized that the sad- you have just done a long run of two- who tells the story to the world.’ headphones. His closing thought on tunes in every day to BBC local radio ness of much of what he was reporting ways, endlessly repeating the same On the flip side he was deeply dis- his career would serve as a summary across England, and to the national ra- on was taking a toll on him. He told Ar- information.’ turbed when a man died before his for many BBC reporters; ‘I’ve been very dio stations in Scotland, Northern Ire- iel; ‘I tend to specialize in death and de- Peter Grant first worked for the BBC eyes after being extricated from the lucky. I’ve been in amazing places at as- land and Wales. struction. I thought – when I was start- as a freelance in Hull, before getting rubble of a building that had collapsed tonishing times.’ World of opportunities for bursary winners
who will apply, what are the chances that I will Europe. It’s a major cultural boost.’ radio station when she spotted the bursary Kari Blackburn award be a winner?’ he tells Ariel. Like Katami, Doreen Wambui had never left advertisement. ‘It was like, ‘this is it’,’ she says. But spurred on by his editor, McDot earned her country. ‘I cried a lot before getting on the ‘I have always admired the BBC and its work and opens doors for stints with WS programmes Focus on Africa plane; it was so scary,’ reveals the Kenyan stu- I saw the bursary as my way to the promised and Network Africa, learning from those he’d dent, who was presenting for her university land.’ Supported by her radio director and close young journalists listened to growing up. He returns to Kampala friends, others were less encouraging, claiming with new presentation skills and ‘a goal to make Orphan Doreen she was too young and lacked formal training. a name for myself as the best newsreader back Wambui was ‘I had to lose some of these friends,’ she says. ‘I by Claire Barrett home’. saving to simply can’t tolerate people who put me down.’ With BBC on his CV, he hopes doors will open study jour- She won time with Radio Humberside, then Michelle Katami grasped the merits of mind- for him, but he’ll never forget stepping out of nalism part with WS Outlook, working on human interest ing the gap; Doreen Wambui learnt who her the taxi and seeing the words BBC Bush House time stories like the girl born up a tree during the friends were; while Matthew McMot discovered above its grand entrance on The Strand. ‘If 2000 Mozambique floods, for which she pro- a desire to dance. But alongside life lessons, there was no one on the street,’ he confides, ‘I vided the voiceover. ‘Just to think my voice is the three African journalists spent their recent would have danced one of those happy dances communicating to global audiences keeps me two month placements understanding how and from the Broadway musicals.’ grounded and humbled,’ she says. why we do things at the BBC and having a go For Michelle Katami, a sports specialist from ‘There I was, a 20 year-old orphan trying to themselves. Kenya’s Radio Jambo, the bursary was a chance make it big in the world of journalism. I’d been The trio were winners of the Kari Black- to further the studies that financial constraints saving to study part-time at journalism college. burn bursary – funded by the World Service cut short. After spells with BBC Norfolk’s sports Never in my wildest dreams, had I imagined and World Service Trust and commemorating team and at Fast Track, the WS African sports I would have such an opportunity.’ the late BBC journalist who drowned in 2007. show, the woman who majored in print jour- Whether others will remains unclear - Respected for her coverage of African affairs, nalism got ‘radio and online training and ex- Global News is reviewing its training provision Blackburn was also a champion of the conti- perience in totality; I am now a multiskilled, for partner station journalists. But Jackie Cham- nent’s broadcasting talent. multimedia person’. bers, who manages the bursary, believes its People like Matthew McDot, a newsreader for Her first trip abroad, it was also Katami’s first namesake would approve. ‘The three journalists Ugandan station Dembe FM, who applied for the experience of snow, and of a transport system left here confident, happy and brimming with bursary with little confidence, but left London ‘which is all about minding the gap’. ‘I have ideas and plans. I worked with Kari and I think with big ambitions. ‘I thought, of all the people sampled a new culture, witnessed how life is in she’d have been very pleased.’ 8 9
A star is born: Brian Cox, Appreciation scores presenter of Wonders of LEARNING the Solar System CURVE week@work u Do you feel that technology is moving too fast for you to get a grasp? Not sure how to face the TRADE SECRETS challenges it creates or to exploit the opportunities if offers? BBC Academy is holding a seminar on Media Tech Trends 2010 about the audience’s use of digital media and How to make the most of how the media industry can respond. It will also give an outline of the FM&T initiatives at the BBC and how tech- nology can help people around the world. Speakers from FM&T, World Service Trust and IBM will be at the all- BRAINSTORMING day event on Friday (April 16) in White City. To book a place, go to tinyurl. com/y8bmv2c or Learn.Gateway. Stuck in a rut If you’re a manager, please Focus your brain on some- Take all this information and Meanwhile, Intro to Mobile is a full don’t use brainstorm ses- thing completely different write a number of ‘challenge day workshop for production staff when it comes 1 sions just to pursue your 3 from the presenting problem. 5statements’ to use as spring- who would like to learn more about own ideas and dismiss ones from This allows you to escape from the boards during the brainstorm. This mobile technology, content and BBC to getting ideas? your colleagues. Your team will well-trodden path of safe and pre- will engender a positive mindset Mobile Services. effectively give up being creative! dictable ideas. It will give a fresh per- and pave the way towards many The eyes To book a place for this event on Want to use your spective or a different starting point possible solutions. Use some of the Wednesday April 14 visit Before you begin to brain- – helping you to make new connec- following sentence constructions: http://learn.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ team’s creative storm, it’s important to know tions and challenge assumptions. n How to….? (or should that events/futurenow/events.asp 2 exactly what the problem is. If n How might…..? talents in the you clarify the ‘real’ challenge, you Explore all aspects of n In what ways might…..? will get to the heart of the dilemma. the ‘problem’ from every be the AIs) have it best possible 4 angle. This will help you to The Creative Network is an in- move from problem (negative) to ternal group of 40 trained coach- way? The BBC’s challenge (positive, because it es and facilitators from every di- invites possible solutions). Here’s vision across the BBC. They offer a Creative Network a list of questions you might use comprehensive service in running to interrogate the ‘problem’: sessions on ideas and development u Wonders of the Solar System held its the dry bits seem brilliant. Can we keep him?’ said a 575,000 iPlayer requests which is a record is on hand to n When does it occur? whether it’s a short brainstorm or audience in awe for the last month with the final two female viewer, 19. ‘Fantastic programme, easy to un- for BBC Two factual programming. n Who else is involved? a department away-day and can be episodes achieving sky-high AIs of 90. Broadcast at derstand, full of information that I never would have Cox is now going on to present a new help staff blast n How have you tried to resolve it? contacted through the global ad- 9pm on BBC Two, the programme was hailed a great understood if I had read a book,’ said a male viewer, 57. four-part BBC series called Universal about n What happened? dress list. success and a new star was born in its presenter The series averaged an audience of 3.2m and drew the laws of the universe. through any n What’s stopping you from finding Professor Brian Cox. more younger viewers than is usual for BBC Two For all overnights and AIs, visit audienc- solutions? Thanks to Frank Ash, manager of ‘He’s so excitable and enthusiastic, he makes even documentaries. The first episode also gained around esportal.com. mental blocks n What might be an ideal outcome? Creativity & Audience
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK SPEECH PATTERNS CHANGING PLACES
MAPPING THE ELECTION tribution/parliament/ brand butlers u Paul Mylrea has joined the Welsh home to become the BBC’s u Need to swot up on the constitu- The illustrations show the new u In the past, all a brand did to make BBC as its official spokesman and Middle East correspondent. ency boundaries for your election constituency boundaries, which money was associate itself with our Head of Press and Media Relations. Chris Parker has taken up coverage? come into force on polling day – subconscious desires and play them out He replaces Donald Steel who his new role in Marketing, Com- BBC Distribution has Ordnance May 6. through a carefully constructed ad. has taken up the mantle of Chief munications and Audiences as Survey data which can be used by The English, Welsh and Scottish Today, the brand acts as a benign Communications Adviser and head of Editorial Standards, Com- everyone in the BBC. The kindly folk maps are licensed for full BBC use, Jeeves-like figure, responding at a mo- Associate Fellow of the BBC Academy.. pliance and Risk. have now produced maps of all 650 internal and external (including online ment’s notice to the mundane demands Steve Rawling has left North Award-winning Operations Westminster constituency seats and broadcast). However, Northern of our hectic lives. West Regional Programming to Manager Jan Healey has left after which are available on Gateway at Ireland maps are licensed for internal ‘Serve not sell’ is the mantra of the become development producer at 24 years at BBC Manchester. http://home.gateway.bbc.co.uk/dis- use only. Brand Butler, a term coined by the the newly-formed BBC North. He She signed off with the words ‘I marketing gurus at trendwatch- will be helping the departments have been so lucky to have worked ing.com. moving to Salford collaborate with such creative and innovative Vinod Verma, multimedia correspondent, It seems people don’t just on ambitious events and pro- and downright lovely people. Yes, BBC IN ACTION talks to a villager who gave up his want their chosen brand of grammes. Journalist Wyre Dav- you have been a pain sometimes land for the Tata Motors factory beer to make them drunk, ies has left the green grass of his but it has all been worth it!’ Three weeks, 3000km and project manager Santosh in the eastern Indian city of Singur they also want it to produce an one global power made a Sinha. ‘What better way of iPhone app that SHAMELESS PLUG road trip to remember for finding out than travelling locates nearby Wyre Davies : leaving Wales the Highway Hindustan the road ourselves?’ gigs to get for the Middle East u Mary Sweeney: Scripter on the Audio side moniker – I’m known as ‘Red Arrow’. team at the Delhi bureau. The multimedia team, which drunk in. Air- Description team at Red Bee Media, I started skating with RWRG last summer after They travelled along India’s included cameraman Pan- lines that sim- Broadcast Centre, White City. watching a friend play. I love it – the adrenaline Golden Quadrilateral which kaj Bhakuni, studio man- ply fly to your Away from work, I often race over to Berk- rush is immense. Despite all the protective gear, connects the capital with ager Garima Saraf and destination? So shire to play the all-female sport of roller derby the inevitable pile-ups means I’ve racked up lots Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), correspondents Brajesh passé. How about one with The Royal Windsor Rollergirls (RWRG). But of fantastically colourful bruises, fishnet burn Chennai (Madras) and Mum- Upadhyay and Vinod Ver- which provides an on- don’t be fooled, this ain’t no roller disco. It’s (aka ‘rinkrash’) and scar tissue on the shins. bai. The journey was trig- ma, visited both affluent ar- line service to find fel- frantic, exhilarating and completely addictive. RWRG has 50 skaters, including six male ref- gered by the Indian govern- eas and rural villages where low travellers to share Invented in the US during the 1920s, roller erees. Recruitment across the UK is expected to ment’s announcement that, they reported on the ten- the airport taxi? Now derby is an extreme sport where two teams of rocket with the recent release of Hollywood roll- from June onwards, 20km sion between farmers and that’s blue sky thinking. five women skate together around an oval track. er derby flick, Whip It, starring Drew Barrymore. of road will be constructed industrial developers. They Of course, by taking The four ‘blockers’ have to help the fifth member, After nine months’ training, I’m about to make daily in one of India’s most produced content for BBC advantage of all the free, the ‘jammer’, through the pack so she can score my bout debut, when we take on Cambridge’s ambitious infrastructure World, BBC Hindi, World logo-covered assistance points every time she laps opposing players. Romsey Town Rollerbillies on April 24 at Wy- projects. ‘We were curious Service and News Online you might start thinking Skaters are dolled up to the max in protective combe Sports Centre. Tickets are £5 in advance to find out how it will shape before reaching their final you owe them something in pads & helmets and eye-catching ‘boutfits’ - (available through your local rollergirl), £6 on the India of tomorrow,’ says stop in Mumbai on Saturday. return...Will that iPlayer be glamour ‘n’ guts in one fearsome package. Der- the door, or through windsorrollergirls.com. all, sir? by girls also choose a tongue-in-cheek track- The question is, do you dare to derby?
IF YOU HAVE A suggestion FOR who or what should be in WEEK@WORK PLEASE Email LISETTE JOHNSTON we’ve got a lot of music after 100 years! dewolfemusic the first name in programme music music searches - download wav/mp3 - music consultancy - reversioning - specially composed www.searchdewolfe.com
020 7631 3600 [email protected]
All our music is covered by the BBC’s blanket licence a 13.04.10 11
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No way to treat an ex pendent on taxis to reach work when ly, including ex-BBC employees, how- teams in our city. Nottingham Forest music appears to have been commis- In 2005 BBC Broadcast staff were there is no public transport running. ever a certain amount of commer- and Notts County. sioned and recorded especially for outsourced to an Australian bank, BBC Broadcast staff were prom- cial realism is necessary. All of our Kevin Stanley the election campaign. Macquarie. These included the BBC ised that the BBC would only make partners face increasingly difficult bj, Radio Nottingham Surely a trip to the virtual gram tv announcers, playout directors, sub- the sale if they were satisfied that commercial pressures in tough trad- library would have come up with titlers and promotion makers. Their any potential purchaser would treat ing conditions, having to compete for something just as suitable from terms and conditions were protected staff as the BBC expects to behave to- work as well as provide appropriately Meeting of minds the hundreds of library music cds? for three years but the BBC effectively wards its employees. What has gone consistent terms and conditions of It is ironic that I doubt if the general public really washed their hands of their ex-staff, wrong at the former BBC owned employment for all employees. the same issue of gives a fig as to what music is used although continuing to require them company and does the corpora- It would be inappropriate for the Ariel (March 30) and a seemingly extravagant gesture to carry out the same work as before. tion intend to stand by and let this BBC to get involved in important which carried chief like this is surely ammo for those Now renamed Red Bee Media, the breach of trust go unopposed? commercial decisions that need to technology officer with an agenda against the BBC. company wants not only to halve Charlotte Simon be taken by our supply partners in John Linwood’s at- And while we’re at it, let’s rub the the redundancy entitlement for new vice-chair BBC division, Bectu order for them to remain competi- tack on the BBC’s collective noses of everyone else in joiners and existing staff but also to tive, particularly where they are meetings culture the BBC by sticking it on the front reduce the entitlement for service al- Diane Dumas, head of employee within legal parameters and the also brought the page of Ariel. That surely takes the ready worked by over 30 percent. relations, replies: When the BBC changes have been subject to due news that the Trust has put Iphone biscuit. Well, it would if we were In a further blow, management outsources services, every effort is process (ie consultation). applications on hold pending an as- allowed them. also want to remove the five month made to ensure a smooth transition sessment and extended its review of Jeff Brown, senior studio manager, redeployment period negotiated at of BBC employees, both as the trans- BBC Alba. Africa and Middle East Region, WS ACAS in 1997 for staff facing redun- ferring employer and also as the ‘cli- It’s Notts on ‘It is often not clear in the BBC dancy. This would mean that staff ent’ of these critical services over an It’s been great to see the BBC’s who owns a decision and is therefore Craig Oliver, general election edi- in this situation would lose two to extended contract term. Terms and investment in Football League authorised to make it,’ says John. tor, replies: When we listened to the four months of time to search for an- conditions of employment are typi- matches this season, but it’s badly Never was a truer word spoken. traditional election music we felt it other job and would then be forced cally protected either by the Trans- let down when listings – and com- Jeremy Hayes needed refreshing and modernising. to leave with a significantly smaller fer of Undertakings (Protection of mentators – get the basics wrong. The World Tonight We did not want to spend a lot of lump sum than they had hitherto ex- Employment) Regulations (‘TUPE’), This Bank Holiday Monday I money on it and commissioned an pected. or in some cases by express agree- looked at our online listings to see excellent composer, who was pre- A ballot is running for affected ment where TUPE does not apply, as that Notts Forest were playing Car- Improper conduct pared to do it for a nominal fee. staff and it is expected that there was the case with Red Bee for a three diff City. Futhermore, throughout In these times of austerity, where The recording was also done for will be an overwhelming vote for in- year period. Match of the Day, Mick McCarthy con- we’re told that every penny has to nothing – within the BBC orchestra’s dustrial action. There is further dete- It continues to be important to tinued to talk about this fictional count and that we should be deliv- existing recording schedule. rioration in T&Cs planned, especially the BBC that all of our outsource team Notts Forest on the pitch. ering real value for the licence fee, We hope the music will be used in for those broadcast critical staff de- suppliers treat their employees fair- For the record, there are two it’s refreshing to see that a piece of a number of ways for years to come.
...and even if they’re not, Kes Loy will convince you that they are.
A virtuoso composer and guitarist, Kes can turn his hand to any style, but the style he prefers has a smile on its face.
Have a listen to him and others at www.audionetwork.com/playlists/happy-days and if you don’t find feel your spirits lift, well, just check that you’ve still got a pulse.
To find out more, contact Elliott on 020 7 242 2311 or email [email protected] 12 Classified 020 7878 2313 a 13.04.10 a 13.04.10 www.bbcarielads.com Classified 13
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To place a classified ad in Ariel please telephone 020 7878 2313 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, you may post your ad to: Ariel Advertising, Ten Alps Media, One New Oxford Street, High Holborn, London WC1A 1NU To place an ad online go to www.bbcarielads.com Ariel Advert 12-04-2010:30th MARCH 2004 Page 12[1].qx 12/04/2010 10:46 Page 1
14 Jobs See Attachment
JOBS
PROGRAMME MAKING ————————————— ————————————— ————————————— Broadcast Assistant (Trails), Africa Projects Manager, BBC Product Manager BBC Radio Gloucestershire World Service Trust London Editor, Radio 3 Good time London Broadcast Centre Media Village London Gloucester Bush House Broadcasting House 3/4H/Ref: 290440 8D/Ref: 293295 11S/Ref: 290027 E C 18-Apr-10 8D/Ref: 290144 C 22-Apr-10 C C 27-Apr-10 A 06 months 21-Apr-10 ————————————— ————————————— ————————————— Senior Control System to be here BUSINESS SUPPORT Producer, Doctors ANDZ MANAGEMENT Information Analyst, Audio & Developer Birmingham Music London 9P/Ref: 291184 London 8D/Ref: 292521 Head of BBC Supply Policy, 7D/Ref: 292498 C 22-Apr-10 A 06 months C 21-Apr-10 A 2 years Louise Stewart, SBJ ————————————— BBC Vision C 25-Apr-10 ————————————— Senior Producer, Arts London ————————————— Technical Author TV Centre in Scotland News and London Talent Manager Drama, BBC London SM2/Ref: 293344 8D/Ref: 293797 Vision Broadcast Centre Media Village C 27-Apr-10 Current Affairs, is C A London 19-Apr-10 06 months ————————————— 8D/Ref: 292447 ————————————— 7D/Ref: 292129 E C 21-Apr-10 Reward Manager, BBC People Talent and Contracts Manager, C 19-Apr-10 A 06 months ————————————— on attachment as a Vision Learning London Technology Project White City ————————————— London Internal Communications Manager/Rheolwr Prosiectau White City 10D/Ref: 293452 political reporter Executive Technegol 7D/Ref: 293856 E C 26-Apr-10 Cardiff C 26-Apr-10 A 12 months ————————————— London at Westminster ————————————— Independent & Diversity 7D/Ref: 290422 8D/Ref: 286864 E C E C 18-Apr-10 A 12 months Post Production Co-Ordinator Executive, BBC Vision 19-Apr-10 London ————————————— ————————————— For the past year I have been on attachment as London Senior Web Developer 5P/Ref: 290600 Programme Office Support a political reporter based in the Regional Unit at TV Centre London (Homepage) C 19-Apr-10 A 06 months Millbank. I arrived at an incredibly busy time – ————————————— 10D/Ref: 293343 Bush House London Broadcast Assistant, BBC C 26-Apr-10 6D/Ref: 292775 TV Centre just as the revelations over MPs’ expenses broke. I Radio 1Xtra ————————————— C 19-Apr-10 A 12 months 8D/Ref: 278301 did dozens of live two-ways on an almost daily ba- London Managing Editor, The ————————————— E C 22-Apr-10 sis on who had claimed what for everything from Yalding House Takeaway Commercial Executive, Factual ————————————— Software Engineer duck houses, to moat cleaning and of course the 4D/Ref: 293581 New York London London practice of home ‘flipping’. C 19-Apr-10 A 03 months 10D/Ref: 291925 White City Media Centre Since then there have been inquiries, resigna- ————————————— C 22-Apr-10 A 12 months 6D/Ref: 291028 7D/Ref: 293955 tions, by-elections and even arrests. Broadcast Assistant, Asian ————————————— E C 21-Apr-10 E C 22-Apr-10 A 12 months Network Head of Project, Humanitarian ————————————— And now everyone at Westminster is caught up Multi Location DFID CHASE Grant Schedulers, Multimedia 4D/Ref: 292716 London Newsroom BBC WORLDWIDE C 22-Apr-10 A 05 months Bush House London I am really ————————————— TV Centre BBC Drama Production Writers 10D/Ref: 291924 Business Affairs Co-ordinator E C A 5D/Ref: 293105 Academy 2010 21-Apr-10 12 months London looking Elstree ————————————— C 26-Apr-10 A Various Media Centre Country Director Nepal N/A/Ref: 286416 ————————————— 3W/Ref: 293606 Nepal Team Assistant, Audiences & E C 05-May-10 Freelance C 25-Apr-10 forward to Various 10D/Ref: 291763 Marketing, BBC Trust ————————————— E C 25-Apr-10 A 12 months London Executive Assistant to Chief covering all JOURNALISM ————————————— 4D/Ref: 293913 Operating Officer Portfolio Manager E C 19-Apr-10 A 06 months London London ————————————— Media Centre Editors, WSNCA 10D/Ref: 290540 PA to Head of Independent the twists London 3W/Ref: 292450 C Drama, BBC England and Exec Bush House 18-Apr-10 E C 21-Apr-10 11D/Ref: 290552 ————————————— Producers and turns of London ————————————— C 23-Apr-10 Marketing Manager, BBC Production Team Assistant Knowledge (BBC One and BBC TV Centre ————————————— 4D/Ref: 293590 London the election Education Three) Media Centre Correspondent/Gohebydd London C 19-Apr-10 A 12 months Addysg TV Centre ————————————— 4W/Ref: 281597 Cardiff 9D/Ref: 293530 Team Assistant, Project TOO E C 14-Apr-10 campaign 9D/Ref: 286866 London C 19-Apr-10 A 12 months C 25-Apr-10 A 2 years White City ————————————— 4D/Ref: 291081 BBC NORTH ————————————— Security Advisor, BBC Safety Senior Broadcast Journalist C 20-Apr-10 A 12 months (Education and Family Online London BBC North job opportunities Index Manager) UK Affairs Bush House London/Salford Quays London 9D/Ref: 293305 NEW MEDIA TV Centre E C 26-Apr-10 If you are looking for a role within covering the much anticipated election. Finally 8/9D/Ref: 293796 a London department that is ————————————— Web Executive, Talent & Rights here is a chance for voters to give their verdict on C 26-Apr-10 A 06 months Senior Compliance Advisor, Negotiation Group moving to BBC North, apply via ————————————— job Ref: the MPs. UKTV (Part time job share) London NTP207351. Assistant Producer (Data), I have also had the chance to cover breaking po- BBC Weather London White City 6D/Ref: 292218 This includes continuing and London 9D/Ref: 292958 litical stories for Network news, reporting live for TV Centre fixed term contracts with an end E C A C 20-Apr-10 A 06 months Radio Four, 5 live and the News Channel. 7D/Ref: 292834 22-Apr-10 03 months date 3 months after the role has C 19-Apr-10 A 06 months ————————————— moved to Salford Quays. The attachment has certainly broadened my ————————————— Territory Manager, Business TECHNOLOGY experience of political reporting. I’ve built on my Broadcast Journalist - BBC Development Apply once and you will be con- knowledge of devolved politics at Holyrood by cov- Cornwall sidered for all relevant BBC Reading Lead Engineer ering UK politics at the heart of Westminster. It’s Truro 9D/Ref: 292076 London North Job opportunities. 5/7D/Ref: 288373 also been great to be part of a big team. There’s a E C 22-Apr-10 10D/Ref: 293259 C 21-Apr-10 A 12 months We are currently recruiting for: ‘can-do’ attitude at Millbank, where the Regional ————————————— E C 22-Apr-10 ————————————— Senior Project Manager - Unit works closely with Network and with other Output Director, Newsround & ————————————— Maracomms Co-ordinator. Business Development Senior Project Manager, colleagues from across the BBC. BBC Children’s Presentation London Dept Search Project Assistant, FM&T. Now the election campaign is in full swing I am Bush House London London Deputy Editor, Newsround. really looking forward to covering the twists and 5P/Ref: 290704 9D/Ref: 290475 9D/Ref: 17144209 C 18-Apr-10 A 06 months E C 23-Apr-10 A 12 months E C 22-Apr-10 Production Manager, Sport. turns, and of course the all important results. ————————————— ————————————— ————————————— ————————————— After feeling rather daunted when I started here I can honestly say that my attachment, which is FULL DETAILS AND HOW TO APPLY EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS due to finish in June after the election, has been one of the most exciting and fulfilling opportuni- Full details and how to apply are on Gateway at: Vacancies published on this page are open to BBC Staff. ties of my BBC career. https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc02.asp Where indicated (E ), external applicants may also be considered. For assistance contact BBC Recruitment’s Response Please contact (quoting the appropriate ref.no.): Recruitment BBC Been anywhere nice? Send your attachment Team on: 0800 082 8080 or 0370 333 1330 HR Direct, PO Box 1133, Belfast BT1 9GP Tel: 0370 333 1330. stories to Clare Bolt
C Date which applications are to be received byE External applicants considered A Attachment/contract
14 OCTOBER 08 ARIEL a 13·04·10 What am I doing here 15 JOHN HOLMES Afternoon Show presenter, Radio Nottingham foreign bureau How long have you been work- a certain amount of appeal in ing at the BBC? those days. She wore quite a I joined in January 1969 when CV short skirt and she kept touch- I became a programmes ope- Education: Honours degree in mining engineering from ing him (Hawthorne) on the rations assistant at Broad- knee. We were told we’d get casting House in London. It University of Nottingham half an hour with her but she was like being a studio ma- Career landmark: Producing the actor Nigel Hawthorne gave us an hour because she nager – working behind the for his interview with then prime minister, Margaret just enjoyed it so much. And Robert scenes, doing sound stuff. I Thatcher, in Radio 4’s Down Your Way then I got him to meet his re- Hugh-Jones joined Radio Nottingham in al-life counterpart, Sir Robin 1970 then I moved away to Family: Married to Kate with three grown-up children Butler, and that was fun as managing editor other units but I’ve been back and four grand-daughters well. The cabinet secretary me- for six or seven years now. eting the cabinet secretary. the takeaway, New York New York is the ‘city that never sleeps’ of Is it true that you previously and Nottingham Rugby Club John Major and Tony Blair on You also worked at the Natural course. But it’s still surreal to arrive for work at worked in a coal mine? were doing very well. We had the same panel. I also wor- History Unit? 4.30am on a weekday morning and see Varick Yes, I got a mining degree the Panthers ice hockey team ked with Jonathan Dimbleby I worked at the radio section street (right off the West Village) buzzing with at the University of Notting- and on top of that, the cric- in turning Any Answers from a which mainly does stuff for revellers. Opening onto Varick street is WNYC, ham so I worked at the Na- ket club were winning cham- show where listeners’ letters Radio 4. Some people were all America’s biggest public radio station, and tional Coal Board. I worked as pionships with probably the were read out into a phone-in. over the world; some people home to The Takeaway. The Takeaway? Nope, a trainee lines manager but best team they’ve ever had. were all over the country, go- it’s not food you can take away (that’s a ‘take I had to work on the coalfa- What was it like working with ing out to see unusual animals. out’ here). Rather, it’s a thumping four-hour- ce to get my qualification. Were you in Sarajevo when Tor- the actor Nigel Hawthorne a-day ‘new kid on the block’ morning news vill and Dean won Olympic gold when he interviewed Margaret Have there been any particular show. Think 5 live ‘Breakfast’. with a tower of That must have been quite in 1984? Thatcher? challenges? pancakes and four-cheese omlette on top. hard? No, I was in the studio back Spike Milligan was a challenge Launched on a few stations in the spring It was absolutely amazing. here in Nottingham when the We decided to have Nigel Hawt- because he was a hero of mine. of 2008 The Takeaway – a Beeb co-produc- It’s a lot easier to enjoy eve- Winter Olympics were on so horne [who played the fictio- He was very difficult to anchor tion – is now carried by nearly 60 stations ry minute if you’re not go- I remember all the sixes co- nal cabinet secretary Sir Hum- when he presented an episode across America. But unlike ‘Breakfast’ this ing to be there for the rest ming in. But I was with them phrey Appleby in Yes, Prime of Down Your Way. He was a bit is ‘the American conversation’. That means of your life and I somehow and their mums and dads Minister] as a presenter for of a free spirit but I managed it American hosts and staff (there are just two knew I wouldn’t be becau- in Copenhagen when they two programmes of Down Your and we got a good programme Brits among the 25 employees) and a diet se I knew I was going to join won the European Cham- Way. For the second program- down at Bexhill-on-Sea - where of… how Obama’s massive healthcare reform the BBC or do something pionships in 1994. I still me, I went down to White- he did his army training and will affect medi- like that. I would have ne- keep in touch with them. hall with him and we pulled the idea for The Goons was ori- care payments… ver missed it for the world. off a coup because I phoned ginally spawned. Actually loo- We’re getting the significance What did you do at Radio 4? king back, it was a highlight of the president How did you find working at I was a producer on a program- of my career but it was a hard bigger and ticking the ‘black’ Radio Nottingham just after it me called Punters which came ‘Spike Milligan was couple of days’ work. We fell category on the US had begun? from Bristol but then I moved out over a couple of things but broader – and census… whether We were still in what they cal- on to Down Your Way which ran a challenge because we ended up the best of mates. the David of But- led the experimental period. for decades. I remember go- also getting ler will beat the We knew that if it didn’t work ing to Bury St Edmunds and he was a hero of Unfortunately you share your Goliath of Duke in a couple of years’ time, there was a then-unknown name with a porn star? ‘heavier’ in tonight’s NCAA we’d all have to look elsew- mine ...we fell out, I have to say to people don’t college basket- here for work. In those days, Google me because another ball final? If the thump of a basketball can be you did everything so I was but ended up the gentleman comes up. I re- heard on The Takeaway every morning, so too working for sport but I was cently did an interview with the front-page stories of The New York Times. also working for general best of mates.’ UB40 and they were just ab- As one of the show’s partners, the paper’s programmes and news solutely wetting themselves reporters come to us first. Blend in the range – a bit of everything. about it. It has been a bit of a and authority of the BBC (John Sudworth on Sir Bernard Ingham’s office problem but a good fun one. Korean reaction to the Louisiana-bound Ko- What was that like? [Thatcher’s press secretary] rean supertanker seized by pirates, and Shoaib I travelled abroad with and they okayed an inter- How do you think that BBC and Hasan in Islamabad relating how the Taliban Brian Clough’s Notting- view with Margaret That- broadcasting has changed over phoned the BBC to claim responsibility for at- ham Forest team during cher so we got Nigel Hawt- the 41 years you have been tacking an American consulate)… and you get their glory years with the horne in Number 10 and here? the picture. European Cup and went we ended the programme When I started, there were still We also have daily business spots from the to their cup finals at Wem- with the famous words, 78s knocking about and no- BBC to complement our Wall Street chit-chat. bley. It was terribly exciting ‘Yes, Prime Minister.’ wadays you can work for the And just the way BBC shows are ‘conversa- because Nottingham was BBC and never see a vinyl disc tions’ these days… so too The Takeaway. On air on the crest of a wave then. How was the dynamic or a piece of recording tape. and online, we’re churning listener participa- At the same time Torvill and between them? I think the biggest change re- tion 24/7. Today’s ‘Takeaway listener question’ Dean were winning all their I think it was Cecil Parkin- ally, for better and worse, is is ‘Are parents to blame for children who bul- championships. Notts Coun- son who said that emails. Emails are very, very ly?’ (provoked by a high-profile bullying case ty – the other football team – she oozed handy but it also means that in Massachusetts which ended in suicide). people sit in front of their mac- Loads of heated responses already. If we’re hines for far too long. I think getting bigger and broader, we’re also get- on the whole, broadcasting is ting heavier… last month we interviewed David much better but we may have Petraeus (commander, US Central Command) lost some of the earthiness. and Mike Mullen (chairman of the Joint Chiefs We don’t have so much of the – the highest ranking officer in the US armed Kenny Everetts. It’s also a little forces) face-to-face in Washington. bit too corseted now. There are So when I arrive for work tomorrow morn- too many rules and regula- ing, through the clubbers on the corner of Var- tions which stifle people a bit. ick and Spring, I’ll be listening closely to their conversations. Who knows. It might just end Interview by Rumeana Jahingir up on The Takeaway.
> CONTACT CLARE BOLT to suggest a colleague for this feature 16 a 13·04·10 green room ▲ THE ARIELAT0R A weekly take on life at the BBC: ▲ who’s up, who’s down, who’s off Confessions of ▲ ▲ a ‘creative’ temp ▲ By Amy Butterworth, Temporary Team Assistant
▲ No-one really likes temps. They come in to your domain with their new shirt and ▲ UPSIDE Scene of interplanetary revelry last different smell, and that awkward smile week at the Plymouth Big Screen Doctor that is just wide enough to be friendly but ▲ Who live experience. Fans descended on not so genuine that you remember them. the city the event and, perhaps inspired by They’re nervous, you’re bored, and the only ▲ the four days of freedom of the bank holi- thing stopping you from slowly bleeding day weekend, many decided to dress for them to death with papercuts is the fact ▲ the occasion the part as well. that no-one’s labelled the stationery cup- ‘We had Tom Baker and David Ten- board properly so you can’t find the paper. nant look-a-likes, a variety of mini-Cy- I am a temp. One of those irritating ▲ bermen and women, a baby sized Dalek temps who, in their spare / ‘real’ time, are and enough sonic screwdrivers to fix a a ‘creative’. One of the legions of out of ▲ fleet of intergalactic spaceships,’ says work actors, struggling writers and frus- Big Screen producer Kevin Heathorn. trated musicians who, when you ask how ▲ their weekend was, say things like, ‘Oh I went on this ashtanga yoga course ▼ to help me with my focus so I can re- search this part I’m up for in a Ten- ▼ nessee Williams play. My agent’s totally stoked.’ Do not underestimate the kebab shop owners just so you can weird tea, and go home skinning our- ▼ depths of the insecurities nur- add something to your showreel. selves of office smell, soaking the paper- tured by us part-time luvvies. We will not adhere to the office clip stains off our hands in ass’s milk just to ▼ No matter what day of the week, dress code – as an executive PA my remind ourselves that this isn’t forever, this There was even an unexpected alien we will never feel truly off-duty. style much resembled that of ‘Rizzo enrols isn’t forever, we’ll talk about these days of ▼ invasion when a full-sized Dalek replica Lunch hour is for checking for in Secretarial College’ – and we will cre- struggle in our Empire interview… came trundling over a nearby pedes- new auditions, evenings are ate lurid colourful signatures in cursive Most people hate us - the unnecessary ▼ trian crossing (pictured). Built by a local filled with classes or ‘meetings’, script at the bottom of our emails, just so personality, the faux-flirty quips and sen- enthusiast on the chassis of a disabled and weekends are spent in cold you know we’re there. We eat salads, drink tences beginning with ‘when I was in The ▼ buggy, Kevin says it looked ‘totally au- cafes at 5am filming unpaid student Bill...’ But aren’t you glad we’ve organised the Mark Thompson has be thentic’. The rebel Dalek proceeded to films about gangster crime among Creator: Amy Butterworth stationery cupboard so very, very prettily? make its way through the assembled ▼ crowd to wage war with the official BBC- affiliated Cybermen on stage by firing ▼ menacing puffs of smoke at them. Win a phone and ‘Fans thought it was all part of the ▼ show,’ says Kevin. As for the mysterious ally and the machine photo frame stranger, he was last seen heading back ▼ over the pedestrian crossing into the sunset, mission accomplished.
EARWIGGING OVERHEARD AT THE BBC See who’s calling …He has more meetings with the new retro-styled phone that I have meals… and digital photo-frame combination from MagicBox. The colombo cordless phone, with … Just do your best to a built in answering machine, comes with a 7” undermine it… digital picture viewer which identifies callers via the handsets phonebook. Whenever some- …I recorded everything one in the phonebook calls, their name and apart from the screaming What better way to mark the end of a flashmic as the car was grabbed by the image are displayed on the viewer. at the end… the government’s car scrappage scheme roof and crushed while Leona yelped When not in use, the high-resolution display then to record a car being crushed? So sympathetically. Unsuitably clad in leop- (800x480 pixels) can be switched to a large …There’s nothing like a revolution going long as it isn’t yours... ard print stilettos she was barred from font alarm clock, or show images in a slide on in a country that you don’t give a A chat in the BBC Essex kitchen led to the final scrapping, but was later pre- show format. Accepting the most popular breakfast presenter Ray Clark suggest- sented with the cuboid remains (above). memory formats, SD, XD, MMC, MS cards and a damn about … ing they be there to pay their respects to ‘I felt a horrible person for putting her USB host, the picture viewer also has an inter- …I’ve never done it with a ‘Ally’ - BA Leona Murray’s car which she through it, and quite emotional to realise nal memory for up to 100 images. had sacrificed in return for a cool £2000 it was really the end,’ admits Leona. ‘But We have one frame and phone to give away. cameraman before… when she picked up her shiny new one. then when I got in my shiny new car to To enter to win them, tell us: In which two Hello… It’s Emma... Your daughter... At the scrap yard Leona was present- drive home - which has windows that countries are there cities named Colombo? ed with Ally’s number plates and her old work and a cup holder, and I soon got Email ariel competitions by April 19. But you rang me… BBC Essex car sticker. Ray stood by with over it.’ How quickly we forget...
> IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR THE GREEN ROOM, CONTACT ADAM BAMBURY